I have heard conflicting accounts of the word "theory". One account asserts that the "theo" is related to the Greek word for god, and that theory originally referred to the reports made by an observer of Greek religious rites. Another account that I've heard suggests that the word does refer to observing, but is not related to the Greek word for god. I would appreciate any informed comments on this. Thanks very much.

theory1592, "conception, mental scheme," from L.L. theoria (Jerome), from Gk. theoria "contemplation, speculation, a looking at, things looked at," from theorein "to consider, speculate, look at," from theoros "spectator," from thea "a view" + horan "to see." Sense of "principles or methods of a science or art (rather than its practice)" is first recorded 1613. That of "an explanation based on observation and reasoning" is from 1638. The verb theorize is recorded from 1638.

This seems to confirm your second acount, that of observation without referring to a god.

On the other hand, also from the OED:

theosophy1642 (implied in theosophical), "knowledge about God and nature obtained through mystical study," from M.L. theosophia (c.880), from Late Gk. theosophia (c.500, Pseudo-Dionysus) "wisdom concerning God or things divine," from Gk. theosophos "one wise about God," from theos "god" (see Thea) + sophos "wise, learned." Taken as the name of a modern philosophical system (sometimes called Esoteric Buddhism), founded in New York 1875 as "Theosophical Society" by Madame Blavatsky and others, which combines teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism.

This seems to lead us in a circle! What's the relationship between thea meaning view and thea meaning goddess?

Looking at a Greek dictionary at the Perseus Project it appears that there at two different words spelled the same: thea from the feminine of theos meaning "goddess" and thea from the verb theaomai meaning "to look on, gaze at, view, behold."

(Note: I have never studied Greek (other than the Greek Alphabet for physics and chemistry), only Latin and French, so there may be more to this. I've found that etymology is like peeling an onion: there are sometimes many layers that can make you cry. )

Regards//Larry

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee

Three years have passed since this post but the Feb 1 2011 Good Word on "Theory" was not posted on the Alpha Agora by the time that the next day's word appeared so one has to wonder why. I have trouble seeing why Dr. Goodword would post anything on a word starting with 'theo' without mention of the 'god' connection even if he believes the two words are totally unrelated.